John Deasy
Ceist:348 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which people in transit through Shannon Airport can be allowed to disembark and seek asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14559/02]
Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
Under Section 8(1)(a) of the Refugee Act, 1996, there is a statutory obligation on an immigration officer to interview any person who arrives at the frontiers of the State seeking asylum in the State or seeking the protection of the State against persecution or requesting not to be returned or removed to a particular country or otherwise indicating an unwillingness to leave the State for fear of persecution. The purpose of the interview is, inter alia, to establish whether the person in question wishes to make an application for refugee status and, if so, the general grounds on which the application is based.
The immigration officer in question is obliged to give leave to enter the State to such a person under section 9(1) of the Act of 1996. The person in question is, under section 9(2), entitled to remain in the State until his or her asylum claim has been processed to finality.